Improvement in car-couplings



J. KENSLER.

. CAR-COUPLING.

No.171,730. Patented Jan.4,187 6.

IIIIIILIIIIIIIIIIIIIII .imnllllllllll W11 E3. 8 $32. s. \EWEET QR W W J/XQ/fJM UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOHN KENSLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I 71.730, dated January/1, 1876; application tiled October 6, 1875. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KENSLER, 0f Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a Gar-Coupling; and 1' do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact specification, wherein are set forth the nature and particulars of my invention, and the mode in which it is carried into efiect, and its novel features pointed out in the claim s.

A is a hollow draw head of a car-coupling.

It is movably attached to the car-body or platform by a bracket, B, and the bolt 0 passing through the draw-bar and bracket. This bracket B is fixed to the platform by the shank B and screw-nut B, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, and it is provided with a slot-hole, B, of suitable length, for the passage of the beforementioned bolt 0. E is a coupling-hook pivoted at F within the draw-head A, and projecting out of the same a sufficient distance to allow the proper engagement of the said hook. It has a barbed end, Gr, beveled on its point to readily engage with the draw-head of the opposite coupling. A spring, H, is attached to this hook near its center of motion, hearing with its free end agains the inner wall of the draw-head A. I is a spring attached to the lower side of the draw-head, and bearing upon a transverse plate, I. It serves to keep the draw-head elevated, and in proper position. K is an iron chair containing the spring arrangement of the draw head, consisting of the spring-bar L, having a head, L, and the coiled or other spring N, operating between the brackets O O, in such manner that one end of the spring N bears against the bracket 0, and the other, end against a shoulder on the spring-bar L, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The draw-head A rests against the spring-bar So far as the parts now described are con 'cerned, they relate to the coupling of cars automatically, and to uncouple them the device is resorted to consisting, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, of the hand-leverjP, properlypivoted at Qon one side of the platform, and connected with the pivoted hook E by the connectingrod R and the stud B, said stud being movably attached to the rod Rwith one end, and passing through the wall of the draw-head A opposite the barbed head of the draw-bar E, permanently connecting therewith with its other end. A hand rod, S, traversing the platform, is also attached to the lever P at T, and passes through the guide U to the opposite side of the platform.

The operation of this coupling will be readily understood. Duplicates of the device described are placed centrally on each end of a car, so that whenever two cars meet the hooks E will engage with each other, and thus connect the several cars. This operation is obvious, and need not be more particularly described, attention being simply called to the spring H, which tends to keep the hooks engaged.

In order to uncouple cars, it will be seen that on each side of the platforms there is one lever, P, and one hand-rod, S, which, if one be pushed away from and the other pulled toward the operator, will disengage both hooks, so that the cars are separated, and can be removed at pleasure. If desired, a stop arrangement may be placed on lever P to lock it in its various positions, so as to preventaccidental uncoupling, &c.

The device described has several advantages over hook-couplings as uowin use, which may be indicated as follows: It is adapted for cars of different heights, and will readily engage 'them on account of the pivoted drawhead A, which is capable of a vertical movement within the guide-timbers, so that when cars of different heights are coupled, the drawhead of the lower car will depress that of the higher one by means of'the beveled hooks,

a and the enlarged inouth of the draw-bars,and

thus make certain connection. The application of the spring I is optionahsince the same result, 1'. 0., coupling cars of varying heights maybe obtained by letting the draw-bar A rest upon the transverse plate I, and the higher car taking it up, or raisin git to make the connection. Pivoting the hook E within the draw head in .a manner to swing in: a horizontal plane, and so pivoting the draw-bar A as to allow a vertical movement thereof, insures a betterand prompter coupling, and is safer;

since the coupling will follow the undulatory motion of the moving cars. The cars can be automatically coupled, and may be uncoupled without compelling the operator to step be tweenthein, and thus hazard life and limbs.

Havingthus fully described inyinvention, a so as y to enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use the same,

Idesire to secure to me by Letters Patent of the United States: i

1. In acar-coupling, the hollow draw-head and bumperA pivoted within the slot 3' of the depending bracket B,with capability of a combined lateral and vertical movement, in

combination with the barbed coupling-bar E,

pivoted Within said draw-head (by the transverse bolt F) with capabilityofa' horizontal motion, and projecting withj its barbedhead i only out of said draw-head, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth. i t i 2. The hollow draw head and bufi'erAyin combination with the hook E, provided with a the spring H, and pivoted within said drawhead by the transverse bolt F, saiddraw-head A being pivoted to the depending bracketB by the bolt (3, and the hook operated by the connecting-rods R R, lever Rand hand-rod i b, the Whole when constructed and arranged, substantiallyas described, for the use and purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the draw-head A, Q provided with the barbed coupling-bar E in its interior, of the stud R, passing through the wall opposite thebarbed head, co'nnecting- 7 man, pivoted leverl, hand-rods, and'connecting with y the said leverP at 1?, aniidthef guide U, all being constructedas described, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention Ihave hereto set my hand and afifixed my seal this 27th day of September, ALD. 1875, in the presenceof two subscribin'g witnesses. JOHN KENSLER. H- SL1 Witnesses: a y

MIOHAELJ. S ARK,

FRANK HIRscH; 

